Edinburgh Morning News 21/07

Edinburgh & Leith team captain David Fisher is nursing the disappointment of the capital elites exit from the Hamilton Trophy in the quarterfinals stage but the Colinton star still has personal targets to aim for including the Singles title of the Edinburgh Bowling League.

It’s Colinton’s debut season in the EBL – having transferred from The Water of Leith League – and Fisher is their spearhead figure in the Knockout Championships sponsored for the first time by Buyrite Bathrooms. Fisher’s first round test was a tough one in the shape of Summerside icon figure David Poole – himself a former captain of E&L – and the outcome of their 21-end battle at Coltbridge was a 21-16 victory for the Colinton challenger. It had been a real ding-dong battle up to the 17th end where Poole added a single to lead 15-13 but Fisher got himself off that hook with a magic count of three then stirred the waters further with a full house four to 20 before sinking Poole with a single two ends later.

Postal entertained high hopes that their recent District finalist Christian Berra would find title compensation in the EBL championships but his campaign failed to get off the ground against Graham Flight of Dudley in their 22-end confrontation at Coltbridge. Flight made slightly the stronger start to lead 12-10 after 12-ends then soared to 17 with a run of 2, 2, (1), 1 but Berra showed menace with a 3, 1, 1 fight-back to stand 16-17 before severely jolted by the loss of a 3 to face imminent defeat at 20-16 down. Berra once again showed strong resistance with a double to 18 but Flight showed he was the man in command with a single to 21 at the next.

David Pinkney carried the banner for Brunstane and moved into the second round with a strong performance to beat Colin Tough of Carrick Knowe, 21-16 in 23-ends at Dean. Tough showed 10-8 ahead after 11-ends and was still in the battle for supremacy at 15-15 after 18 but the business end was taken over by Pinkney in the shape of a 3, (1), 1, 1, 1 purple patch spell to 21.

Carrick Knowe hosted the clash between Colin Jones of Queensberry and Rab Weir of Lutton Place that was decided in 19-ends with Jones dominating at all stages to lead 16-8 then hit 21 with a 1, 1, 1, 2 finish.

Tanfield progressed into the quarterfinals stage of the Edinburgh & Leith Top Five Singles Championship – for The Ian McFarlane Trophy – making home advantage count with a 3-1 win over Slateford in weather conditions that challenged the skills of both teams. First blood went to Tanfield with stalwart campaigner Charlie McLaren producing a tip-top performance to deliver the scalp of Ronnie Ramsay beating the 1986 British Isles Fours champion, 21-8, having made a blitz start to lead 11-0.

Slateford – with ace player Robert Marshall an absentee – bounced back from their opening setback in great style with Davy Ross scything the talented Scott Wood 21-8 in 19-ends having set up a commanding 12-2 lead after nine ends. And the future looked bright for the visitors with Andrew Ramsay – a former Edinburgh Open Champion – picking up the pace from 12-12 to reach 20 with a purple-patch run of 1, 4, 1, 2 against Liam McKay.

McKay – having a great season so far with the National Junior Singles title in his sights and the E&L Fleming Trophy in the bag – was faced with a mounting to climb but the 18-year old produced a miracle run of 1, 2, 1, 3, 2 to steal a 21-20 victory. It was a fight back that sent the home club support into raptures and it served as a great, and timely, inspiration to team mate Stuart Campbell who looked likely to be the next one to finish.

Campbell had had Graham McAdam on toast at 18-7 up and looked home and dry – or soaked to the skin in reality – however the spirits in the Slateford camp were revived as their man peeled at 18 with a thrilling 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 1, 2 fight back.

The outcome of the whole match was back in the melting pot however the sizzling climax was delivered by Campbell in the shape of a, 1, 2 finish to win in 24-ends. With Tanfield leading 3-1 it caused Robert White and Gordon Ramsay to call it quits at 17-17.

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